DEVICE

Abstract

A device for the securing of a knotted shoelace with at least one groove for placing the knot, wherein the device is to be secured by the knot and the shoelace on a shoe, and can be positioned between the knot and the shoe. It is intended by way of the device that the shoelace should be simple to tie and, at the same time, fixed securely. The device including at least one cushion made of a soft and elastic plastic, wherein the cushion includes the groove or the contact surface for the shoelace and for the knot.

Claims

1. A device for securing a knotted shoelace, comprising: at least one groove or a contact surface for inserting a knot, wherein the device is to be secured by the knot and by the shoelace on a shoe and can be positioned between the knot and the shoe, wherein the device comprises at least one cushion made of a soft and elastic plastic, wherein the cushion comprises the groove or the contact surface for the shoelace and for the knot.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a dimensionally and inherently stable contact mounting as a bearing for a one-part or an at least two-part cushion, wherein the contact mounting is arranged in a direction Y under the cushion and the cushion is connected to the contact mounting by positive fit and/or material joining and/or non-positive fit.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein arranged on the contact mounting is a two-part cushion with a groove between the two cushion parts.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the groove tapers in a direction Y and/or in a direction Z at right angles to the direction Y or the groove has different widths in a direction X.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a cut-out opening is provided in the cushion or between the two parts of the cushion, which in a direction X is wider than the groove.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the groove has a depth in a direction Y between 5 mm and 14 mm or of 9 mm as well as a width in a direction X between 3 mm and 11 mm or of 7 mm as well as a length in a direction Z between 4 mm and 12 mm or of 8 mm.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plastic for the cushion is formed with an elongation at break of up to 400% and/or a Shore hardness D in accordance with Standard DIN ISO 7619-1 of between 6 and 90 and/or a Shore hardness A in accordance with Standard DIN ISO 7619-1 of between 25 and 95, and/or the compression modulus of the plastic is greater than 10.sup.8 Pa and/or the transverse shrinkage in accordance with Standard DIN EN ISO 527-1 is smaller than 0.7.

8. A system consisting of the device according to claim 1, and a shoelace and/or a transponder and/or a shoe.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein an adherence friction coefficient between the surface of the shoelace and the surface of the cushion is greater than 0.7 and/or the sliding friction coefficient is greater than 0.3.

10. A system consisting of the device according to claim 5, and a shoelace and/or a transponder and/or a shoe.

11. A device for securing a shoelace of a shoe, secured by a knot, wherein the device comprises: at least one receiver and/or a contact mounting, which can be laid on the shoe in a direction Y between the knot and the shoe, wherein the receiver comprises a contact surface for the shoelace and is configured in the form of a cushion made of a soft and elastic plastic produced by polycondensation, which exhibits a high resilience, wherein, due to a pressure which can be induced during the tying of the knot of the shoelace onto the cushion in the direction Y, the contact surface can be enlarged by the penetration of the shoelace into the cushion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in the claims and in the description and represented in the figures. The figures show:

[0023] FIG. 1b is a principle sketch of a device for securing a knotted shoelace, which is secured to a shoe;

[0024] FIG. 1b is a sectional view of a two-part cushion with knotted shoelaces in the X-Y section;

[0025] FIG. 1c is a sectional view of a one-part cushion with a groove with knotted shoelaces in the X-Z section;

[0026] FIG. 1d is an exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1a without a shoe, in a perspective view;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a one-part cushion in the X-Y section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Represented in FIG. 1a is a system consisting of a device 1 and a shoe 2 with shoelaces 21, with which the device 1 is secured by the knotting of the shoelace 21 on the shoe 2. The device 1 comprises a two-part cushion 3, such that a groove 32 is formed between the two cushion parts 3. The material of the cushion 3 exhibits similar rubber-like properties as hardened silicone. The cushion 3 is provided such as to be knotted with the shoelace 21 on a shoe 2, in order to fix the knot 22 and the shoelace 21 and to prevent the loosening of the knot 22.

[0029] As is represented in greater detail in FIG. 1b, the two cushion parts 3 are arranged next to each other on the contact mounting 4. The device 1 lies with the contact mounting 4 on the shoe 2. In this situation, due to the pressure exerted when tying, the shoelace 21 penetrates with its knot 22 into the groove 32, and lies on the actual contact surface 41 of the contact mounting 4. Due to the elasticity of the cushion 3, a counter-pressure 61, indicated by arrows, is exerted on the knot 22. As a result, friction occurs between the outer parts of the shoelace 21, which form the knot, and the cushion 3.

[0030] In order to secure the cushion 3, the contact mounting 4 can be created on a structure, not shown, which the cushion 3 is cast onto and into. Such structures of the contact mounting 4 can consist of hooks, anchors, and eyes, by means of which a positive fit with the cushion 3 is guaranteed. Apart from a possible positive fit connection, the cushion 3 is secured to the contact mounting 4 by adhesive forces, which are produced at the laminating of the contact mounting 4 to the cushion 3.

[0031] The two-part cushions 3 consist of two parts arranged closely next to one another in a direction X orthogonal to the direction Y. In a special embodiment, the groove 32 formed between the two cushions 3 can taper in the direction Y towards the contact mounting 4. The length of the groove 32 corresponds essentially to the length of the cushion 3. If the shoelace 21 is introduced in the direction Y entirely between the two cushions 3, the pressure 6, and therefore the slide friction and adherence friction, of the cushions 3 onto the shoelace 21 are maximum. At the same time, the shoelace 21 on the contact mounting 41 lies directly on the contact surface 4.

[0032] According to FIG. 1c, the device 1 comprises a one-part cushion 3, which is positioned between the shoe 2 and the knotted shoelace 21. The single-piece cushion 3 is structured in a similar manner to the two-part cushion 3. As a difference in respect of the single-part cushion 3, a connection is provided between the two cushion parts in the base of the groove 32, such that the cushion 3 exhibits a u-shaped profile (not shown) in the X-Y section. The advantage in relation to the two-part cushion 3 is that, beneath the shoelace 21 and beneath the knot 22, between the contact mounting 4 and the shoelace 21 there is also soft and elastic material present, which fixes the knot 22 better. The knot 22 of the shoelace 21 is clamped together with the shoelace 21 in between the two cushion parts 3.

[0033] Represented enlarged in FIG. 1d is the device 1 represented in FIG. 1a. Here, as also in FIG. 1c, it can be seen that, in addition to the groove 32, a cut-out opening 33 is also provided in the groove 32, into which, when the shoelace 21 is tied, the knot 22 is introduced. By way of the cut-out opening 33, essentially four circumferential side surfaces are formed, which are in contact with the knot 22 and the parts of the shoelace 21 surrounding the knot 22. Due to the fact that the one-part cushion 3 is also arranged underneath the knot 22, a fifth surface, namely the base of the cut-out opening 33, is available for the creation of the friction.

[0034] Represented in FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a device 1 with a one-part cushion 3 in the knotted state. The cushion 3 comprises, instead of a groove 32, a contact surface 31 for the shoelace 21. As a result, the position of the shoelace 21 on the cushion 3 is variable, because the contact surface 31 does not differ, or not substantially, in its geometry from the geometry of the remaining surface of the cushion 3 in the region of the contact surface 31. The region of the cushion 3 beneath the shoelace 21, like the contact mounting 4, is represented in the X-Y section. Due to the pressure 6, incurred during tying, of the shoelace 21 onto the cushion 3 in a direction Y from above, the shoelace 21 on the contact surface 31 of the cushion 3 penetrates into the cushion 3, or, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1b to 1d, into the groove 32. The elastic cushion 3 counteracts the deformation due to the shoelace. In this situation, the friction surface increases, as does the pressure 6 between the cushion 3 and the shoelace 21. At the same time, the cushion 3 exerts a counter-pressure 61 onto the shoelace 21 and onto the knot 22, and clamps the shoelace 21 and the knot 22 securely. The slide friction and adhesion friction which are thereby incurred grow with the increase in the pressure 6 produced by the shoelace 21.